Many people neglect the simplicity of proper maintenance of their gutters & downspout. While the main purpose of the gutters is to collect water off a roof area of your house & or building, it is most often neglected. When a gutter is working properly, it takes water that runs off a roof line into it & redirects water to a downspout which is usually diverted away from your house/building. Sometimes the downspout run into a leader drain that is in the ground & meant to divert water even farther away from a house that daylights well away from the foundation of the structure. If the pitch of the earth around the house is properly pitched away from the house, then the water that comes off the downspout usually will run away from the house due to the landscaping pitch. If there are low spots or spots where the earth is pitched level or towards the house, then you might experience the issues of water that comes back into your house, usually the basement area. While the gutter is not the cure all of the water issues of a wet basement, it is the first line of defense against the water coming back towards the house. A clogged gutter or downspout will make the water pool or puddle in the area of the house where the water has the least resistance to enter it. Also in the Northeast where the weather is colder in the winter, the water in the gutters that clogs, will eventually freeze, backup or even expand & cause damage. Water has a greater force when frozen due to it's expanding properties. The most common is water finding it's way back in the house through the windows, the soffits & or the foundation. By simply cleaning & maintaining the gutters & downspout, you can increase the level of defense your house has to not letting water in & causing damage. The most common issues of damage are mold, rotting/water damaged wood, water stains, water in basement areas, siding damage fascia/under hang damage, etc. The simple advice is to clean & maintain the gutters 2 times/year in the spring & in the late fall after the leaves have fallen. Even with "gutter covers" you will eventually need to clean the gutters.